Yreka >> Seeking protection for their suspected rural marijuana grows and trafficking operation, two people allegedly tried to bribe Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey, who instead turned them in.

Chi Meng Yang, 31, of Montague, and his sister Gaosheng Laitinen, 36, of Mount Shasta View, allegedly approached Lopey in May seeking protection from raids on their grows that would supply interstate trafficking, said Lauren Horwood, spokeswoman with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sacramento.

On May 17, Yang met with Lopey and offered him $1 million if he’d exempt their eight grow sites from a ban on outdoor marijuana grows, Horwood said.

Lopey is notable for his stance against marijuana and marijuana grows in Siskiyou County.

They also wanted to ensure no authorities raided their grows, which would help Yang and Laitinen profit via out-of-state marijuana licenses, Horwood said.

Lopey pretended to cooperate while instead working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, she said. While wearing a wire, he agreed to work with them and accept $80,000 if he exempted the eight properties. The suspects paid him $10,500 before the FBI moved in.

Yang has been arrested while Laitinen is on the run, Horwood said. They face up to 80 years in prison for the bribery and drug charges if convicted, she said.